JPH07109263B2 - Thermostatically operated control mixing valve - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thermostatically actuated control mixing valve.
and more particularly to a single handle, thermostatically actuated control mixing valve that provides a substantially constant, controlled, preselected temperature water flow from separate hot and cold water streams.
Such a valve is particularly useful in showers where the temperature of the water stream to be discharged may change after the temperature is set due to the requirements placed on any cold or hot water supply. Is.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Single handle mixing valves are well known and common in the water supply and discharge arts.
These valves provide a mixed stream of mixed water from separate hot and cold streams. However, these valves suffer from the inconvenience caused by sudden and undesirable changes in water temperature or pressure in any piping that supplies water to the valves. In some cases, changes in temperature that occur in the mixed discharge water can be uncomfortable for the valve user. Such discomfort is particularly great when the valve is a shower mixing valve and the user is in the shower room. The abrupt pressure drop in the cold water piping, which often occurs when the toilet flushes the flush flow, causes a sharp rise in the temperature of the shower water, requiring the user to move away from the flush quickly.

Some faucets and mixing valves have been developed to reduce or eliminate such problems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,172 proposes a self-regulating valve assembly for combining hot and cold water pressurized to obtain a discharge of mixed water having a preselected constant water temperature. There is. The valve assembly includes a valve actuation cavity, a hot water inlet passage leading to the valve actuation cavity, a cold water inlet passage leading to the valve actuation cavity, and a mixing drawn from the valve actuation cavity. It is adapted to include a housing having a water outlet passage. A valve member is provided for movement within the valve actuation cavity and divides the cavity into two auxiliary chambers.
The passages through the valve members are adapted to allow fluid to flow from their respective inlet passages to their outlet passages at a flow rate that varies as the valve member moves. The passage in the valve member allows a portion of the mixed water to flow into the auxiliary chamber. An auxiliary passage is provided between each auxiliary chamber and the outlet passage. A temperature responsive element is provided in the outlet passage. In response to the temperature excursion of the water in the mixing chamber, the temperature responsive element closes one of the auxiliary passages and moves the valve member until the water in the outlet passage reaches a preselected temperature. .

US Pat. No. 4,901,750 describes a pressure balancing, suppression control and temperature control mixing valve. The mixing valve has a modular cartridge rotatably mounted in a housing. The cartridge has a bottom suppression control valve plate attached to the lower portion which houses the pressure balancing valve. This lower part is fixed to an axial part which rotatably receives the temperature control plate. Both of these plates are rotatable about a common axis. One plate is controlled by actuation of a first stem attached to the handle. The other plate is controlled by a second stem actuated by a temperature control knob. The insert also allows the temperature control knob to be activated when the hot and cold water supplies are reversed. A splined hot water stop ring is attached to the handle to properly limit rotation of the temperature control knob for the maximum water temperature selected. The outer seal ensures that all flow is through the cartridge when the water flow rate is set to partial flow.

US Pat. No. 3,713,301 describes a valve structure having a hot water inlet connected to the mixing chamber, a cold water inlet connected to the mixing chamber and a water discharge outlet from the mixing chamber. ing. One or more valve seats are provided at one or more inlets. One or more diaphragms are provided in one or more of the valve seats for adjusting relationship. Each diaphragm structure includes a pilot passage and bleed opening and an adjustable pilot in adjustable relation to the valve seat. A thermostat arrangement is responsive to the temperature of the mixing water in the mixing chamber to adjust the one or more pilots in relation to make adjustments to the water passages in the one or more diaphragms. Have. The thermostat structure allows the hot and / or cold water pilot to be adjusted to introduce the correct amount of hot and / or cold water into the mixing chamber. The pilot is housed in a wall structure that forms a cavity on one side of the diaphragm. One or more levers are provided with an inner end located in the cavity and an outer coupling for sealing, the outer end of which is actuated by a thermostat structure to regulate hot and / or cold water. The flow of water can be controlled.

US Pat. No. 3,550,901 describes a valve structure having a hot water inlet connected to the mixing chamber, a cold water inlet connected to the mixing chamber and a water discharge outlet from the mixing chamber. . One or more valve seats are provided at one or more inlets. One or more diaphragms are provided with one or more valve seats in a regulating relationship. Each diaphragm structure includes a pilot passage and a bleed opening and an adjustable pilot in a regulating relationship with the valve seat. The thermostat arrangement has a regulator responsive to the temperature of the mixing water in the mixing chamber that regulates the one or more pilots in a coordinated relationship to the water passage of the one or more diaphragms. The thermostat arrangement allows the hot and / or cold water pilot to be adjusted to introduce the correct amount of hot and / or cold water into the mixing chamber. The pilot can be housed in a cavity wall structure forming a cavity on one side of the diaphragm. One or more levers are provided with an inner end in the cavity and an outer coupling for sealing, the outer end of which is actuated by a thermostat structure,
Controlled water control over hot and / or cold water is provided.

US Pat. No. 3,388,861 discloses a valve body having hot and cold water inlet and outlet ports,
Actuation of the thermostat element to control the hot and cold water inlet and outlet port devices and the amount of water flowing through these hot and cold water inlet ports, respectively, adapted to slide within the valve body. Describes a mixing valve including an adjusting member slidable within a control valve.

US Pat. No. 3,004,710 discloses an adjustable thermostatically actuated mixing having a valve body with an inwardly directed hot and cold water inlet and an outwardly drawn outlet. The valve is described. This outlet is provided with an electrically controlled shutoff valve.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to ensure that all valve actuation and temperature sensitive elements are provided in a replaceable, easily removable cartridge assembly. The advantage of such a construction is that the cartridge can be retro-fitted into existing single-handle faucet sockets.

Another object of the present invention is a thermostatically actuated controlled mixing valve which is not directly affected by pressure changes in any of the water supply conduits, but instead is only affected by the temperature of the mixed water. Providing, the advantage of this design is that the valve may produce an even more isothermal delivery than conventional valves.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fluid thermostat actuation control mixing valve provided by the present invention includes a housing having a cavity for receiving a cartridge. The housing is rotatably mounted on a valve socket body having a cold water supply port, a hot water supply port and a mixed water outlet port. The cartridge includes a tubular sleeve adapted to receive a hollow cylindrical housing rotatably disposed therein. A protruding piece dimensioned to fit within the valve socket body and having a hot water inlet passage, a cold water inlet passage and a mixed water outlet passage is secured to the bottom of the tubular sleeve in a rotationally fixed manner. Installed. The protruding piece is inserted into the valve socket body so that the cold water inlet passage communicates with the cold water inlet port, the hot water inlet passage communicates with the hot water inlet port, and the mixed water outlet passage communicates with the mixed water outlet port. It has become. The volume control valve plate is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the hollow cylindrical housing so as not to rotate, and cooperates with the fixed valve plate in the protruding piece to regulate the amount of water flowing into the cartridge. ing.

An inner housing having a side wall, a bottom wall and an open top is fixedly disposed within the hollow cylindrical housing and extends longitudinally with the hollow cylindrical housing in a hot water passage and a circumferential direction. A cold water passage extending in the longitudinal direction is formed at an interval. The side wall and bottom wall of the inner housing form a mixing chamber within the inner housing. A hot water supply opening having one end communicating with the hot water passage and the other end communicating with the mixing chamber is provided adjacent to the top of the inner housing, and is circumferentially spaced from the hot water supply opening. A cold water supply opening is provided adjacent to the top of the inner housing with one end communicating with the cold water passage and the other end communicating with the mixing chamber. A mixing water outlet opening is provided in the bottom wall of the inner housing and is adapted to communicate with the mixing water outlet passage in the protruding piece through the mixing water outlet port of the fixed valve plate and the volume control valve plate. .

A thermostat element responsive to the temperature of the mixed water in the mixing chamber is longitudinally moveable within the mixing chamber. The thermostat element is operatively connected to a valve arrangement that regulates the flow of water into the mixing chamber through hot and cold water supply openings. The valve device includes a cylinder fixedly mounted on the top of an inner housing and a piston axially slidably disposed within the cylinder. The bottom of the cylinder and the top of the inner housing form the hot water supply opening, and the top of the cylinder and the inner shoulder in the cylindrical housing form the hot water supply opening.

The thermostat element is adapted to move axially within the mixing chamber in response to the temperature of the mixing water within the mixing chamber. As the temperature of the mixed water increases, the thermostat element moves downward in the mixing chamber. This downward movement of the thermostat element causes the piston to which it is operatively connected to move downward in the cylinder, thereby narrowing or closing the hot water supply opening, thereby causing the flow of hot water into the mixing chamber. Reduce. When the temperature of the mixed water decreases, the thermostat element is made to move upward in the mixing chamber. The upward movement of the thermostat element causes the upward movement of the piston in the cylinder, which narrows or closes the cold water supply opening, reducing the flow of cold water into the mixing chamber.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 10, mixing valve 10 has a valve socket body 40 which is connected to a mounting portion 14 which is typically mounted behind a shower wall 16.
The mounting portion 14 includes a cold water supply nipple 18, a hot water supply nipple 20, an outlet nipple 22 guided to a pipe jet port (not shown), and a shower rising pipe (not shown).
Has an outlet nipple 24 connected thereto. The outlet nipple 24 communicates with the outlet nipple 22. The valve socket body 40 has a decorative collar 26 mounted via a friction seal ring 48 that fits in its groove. The collar 32 has a threaded portion 43 on the outside of the valve socket body 40 which allows the valve socket body 40 to
Are threadedly engaged. A volume control handle 34 having a lever 36 is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of the valve socket body 40. A temperature control knob 38 is also attached to the outer, remote end of the volume control handle 34 and is rotatable about the same longitudinal axis of the valve socket body 40.

The internal valve actuating portion is shown in greater detail in FIGS. To simplify the illustration,
The temperature control knob 38 is shown as located at the top of the mixing valve 10. References to the top, bottom, top and bottom are all made with respect to the temperature control knob 38 located at the top of the mixing valve 10, but the mixing valve may be oriented in other orientations, such as the orientation shown in FIG. It is perfectly possible to mount it in position. The valve socket body 40 is of a type generally known in the art and is, inter alia, US Pat. No. 3,053, incorporated herein by reference.
0,418, 4,699,172 and 4,9
No. 01,750. Valve socket body 40
Is usually made of metal and has a cylindrical portion 51 and a hemispherical portion 52.
Is provided. The cylindrical portion 51 and the hemispherical portion 52 bound the socket cavity 45. The socket cavity 45 has a hemispherical portion bounded by a hemispherical portion 52 of the socket body 40 and a cylindrical portion bounded by a cylindrical portion 51 of the socket body 40. The cylindrical portion 51 of the valve socket body 40 has a larger inner diameter than the hemispherical portion 52, thereby forming a shoulder 53 therebetween. This hemispherical portion 52 has water supply ports 42 and 44 located adjacent its bottom as shown in FIG. The supply port 42 has one end communicating with the supply source through the supply 42a, the nipple 18, and the other end communicating with the space 45. The supply port 44 has one end communicating with the water supply source through the nipple 20 via the supply pipe 44a and the other end communicating with the space 45. A valve seat 46, made entirely of an elastic material such as rubber or the like, is located at these two ports 42 and 44 to form a watertight seal between the socket body 40 and the protruding piece 60, and by means of the spring 47. It is designed to be pushed upward. Mixed water discharge port 56 (not shown)
Also extends through the hemispherical portion 52 adjacent the bottom of the hemispherical portion 52 and has two outlet nipples 22 at one end.
And 24 via the discharge pipe 56a, and the other end communicates with the space 45. A keyway 49 is provided in the side wall of the cylindrical portion 51 to allow the key 6 of the protruding piece 60 to be described later.
4 is to be engaged.

The protruding piece 60 is dimensioned to fit in the socket cavity 45 of the socket body 40.
The protruding piece 60 can be made of plastic or other suitable material. This protruding piece 60 is a generally hemispherical portion 61 and socket cavity 4 sized to fit within the hemispherical portion of the valve socket cavity 45.
5 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 62 sized to fit within the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion 62 of this protruding piece 60 has a larger outer diameter than the hemispherical portion 61,
This forms a shoulder 63 between them. The shoulder portion 63 is spatially arranged above the shoulder portion 53 of the socket body 40 so that the hemispherical portion 61 is fixed and assisted with respect to the valve seat 46. An O-ring 66 is provided in an annular groove 65 extending around the outside of the cylindrical portion 62 of the protruding piece 60 to provide the socket body 40 and the protruding piece 6.
Between 0 it forms an additional watertight seal.

As shown in FIG. 5, a key 64 extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical portion 62 of the protruding piece 60. The key 64 is a cylindrical portion 51 of the socket body 40.
It fits into and engages with the keyway 49 in the side wall of the socket, thereby blocking the rotational movement of the protruding piece 60 in the socket cavity 45.

Three vertical water passages 70, 71 and 72
Pass through the protruding piece 60 and extend from the surface of the hemispherical portion 61 to the concave flat top surface 67 of the cylindrical portion 62. As best shown in FIG. 10, one of these passages, the mixed water outlet passage 71, is formed by the relieved portion within the hemispherical portion 61 of the protruding piece 60. The mixed water outlet passage 71 communicates with the mixed water outlet port 56 in the hemispherical wall portion of the socket body 40. The other passage, the hot water inlet passage 72, has an inlet opening 73 in the hemispherical portion 61 of the protruding piece 60. This opening 73 is used for the inlet port 4 in the socket body 40.
Centered on top of 4. A spring-biased valve seat 46 in the port 44 forms a watertight seal around the opening 73 between the protruding piece 60 and the socket body 40. Similarly, the third passage, the cold water inlet passage 70, has an inlet opening 74 in a hemispherical portion 61 centered over the cold water inlet port 42 of the socket body 40 and has a spring biased valve seat 46. Sealed to prevent leakage.

As best shown in FIG. 5, two arcuate cavities 75 and 76 are provided in the recessed flat top surface 67 of the protruding piece 60. This empty space 75 is a passage 72
And the cavity 76 communicates with the passage 70. A mixed water discharge opening 78 is also provided in the recessed flat top surface 67, which communicates with the mixed water outlet passage 71.

As best shown in FIG. 5, a radially inwardly extending key 79 is provided on the cylindrical portion 6 of the protruding piece 60.
It is located on a flat top surface 67 which is recessed inside 2. The key 79 engages with a key groove 91 around the fixed valve plate 90 to prevent rotation of the plate 90 relative to the protruding piece 60. A seal member 80 made of rubber or the like is placed in a groove 89 formed in a recessed flat top surface 67 to form a watertight seal between the top surface 67 and the fixed valve plate 90. .

A notch 81 is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 62 of the protruding piece 60. The notch 81 has a groove or a recess 82 therein, and a holding lip 83 is formed therein. These notches 81 are adapted to receive corresponding tabs 102 on the bottom of the outer sleeve 101 of the cartridge assembly and to secure the outer sleeve 101 against rotation with respect to the protruding piece 60. The remote ends of these tabs 102 project inwardly,
It has a protrusion 103 that is received in the groove 82, and is configured such that the outer sleeve 101 is retained in the protruding piece 60 via the lip 83.

The fixed valve plate 90 is disposed within the cylindrical portion 62 of the protruding piece 60 and is retained on top of the recessed flat top surface 67. The fixed valve plate 90 has two arc-shaped water inlet ports 92 and 93 that extend upward and a generally circular mixed water outlet port 94 that extends upward. The shape of these water inlet ports 92 and 93 is such that voids 75 and 76 in the recessed flat top surface 67 of the protruding piece 60.
It is designed to match the shape of. These water inlet ports 92 and 93 communicate with cavities 75 and 76, respectively. The mixed water outlet port 94 communicates with the mixed water discharge opening 78 in the flat, concave top surface 67. When the fixed valve plate 90 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 62 of the protruding piece 60 and is fixedly held on the recessed flat top surface 67, the sealing member 80 causes the inlet port 92, 93 and the mixed water outlet port 94. Between them and between the voids 75, 76 and the mixed water discharge opening 78.

Cartridge assembly 100 includes a cylindrical sleeve 101 with open top and bottom ends which engages projection piece 60 depending from the bottom of projection sleeve 60 into a corresponding groove 81 in projection piece 60. The tab 102 is fixed so as not to rotate. Wall part 1 of this cylindrical sleeve
A portion of 05 is cut away to form the window 106. A recess 108 is formed on the inner surface of the wall 105, and the window 106
From the bottom portion 107 of the sleeve 101 extending axially downward to the open bottom end portion of the sleeve 101. The recess 108 has a top communicating with the window 106 and a bottom end communicating with the open bottom end of the sleeve 101. The annular portion 109 of the inner surface of this wall 105 is also recessed, i.e. having a larger inner diameter than the inner surface of the wall directly above and adjacent the open bottom end of the sleeve 101, whereby the sleeve 101. Forming an inner shoulder 110 against the unrecessed inner surface of the wall 105 above the interior portion 109 of the.

A hollow, generally cylindrical housing 11 having a wall portion 112 having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 101.
1 is rotatably arranged inside the hollow of the sleeve 101. The housing 111 has a collar 113 at its open bottom end. The top of this collar 113 abuts the inner shoulder 110 inside the sleeve 101, thereby allowing the housing 1 within the sleeve 101 to
It restricts the upward movement of 11 in the axial direction.

A raised portion 115 is provided on the outer surface of the wall portion 112 of the housing 111. Since the outer diameter of the housing 111 in the raised portion 115 is larger than the inner diameter of the sleeve 101, the raised portion is at least partially in the window 10.
It projects through 6. The height of the ridge 115 is dimensioned so that it fits within the window 106. The width of the raised portion 115 is smaller than the width of the window 106 so that the housing 111 can rotate within the sleeve 101, and this rotation is limited by the arc formed in the window 106. Therefore, the vertical sides 104 and 104a of the window 106 act as a stopper that restricts the rotation of the housing 111 in the sleeve 101.

The inner diameter of the recess 108 inside the wall portion 105 of the sleeve 101 is such that the housing 1 at the raised portion 115
It is larger than the outer diameter of 11. The width of the raised portion 115 is 10
Since it is smaller than the width of 8, the ridge fits within the recess 108, thereby allowing the housing 111 to be slid axially inserted into the sleeve 101 through the open bottom of the sleeve 101. It is possible.

The housing 111 has a volume control stem 118 at its top end. The volume control stem 118 is adapted to be rotated by the handle 34, which has a non-circular opening 314 that conveniently receives the complementary feature 119 of the volume control stem 118. And is fixed to the handle 34 so as not to rotate relative to the handle 34. This causes the lock nut 318 to be screwed into the threaded portion 120 of the stem 118 and the handle 34 to the stem 1.
18 and also allows the temperature controlled actuation stem 260 to be fixed within the annular cavity of the volume control stem 118 so that there is no axial movement. These openings 314 and profiled portion 119 have a rotationally symmetrical shape (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and
It is ensured that 18 has only one orientation position with respect to opening 314. When the handle 34 is rotated, it causes the stem 118 and thus the housing 111 to rotate.

The volume control valve plate 150 is the housing 1
It is fixedly attached to the open bottom end of the housing 111 so as not to rotate relative to 11. The volume control valve plate 150 has a housing 111.
Fixed axially downwardly from the collar 113 of the volume valve plate 150 by two keys 116 which engage corresponding keyways 151 in the rim of the volumetric valve plate 150 so that they do not rotate relative to the housing 111. Has been done. The volume control valve plate 150 seals the open bottom end of the housing 111 with an O-ring 154.

As best shown in FIG. 4, this volume control valve plate 150 has a flat bottom surface 152,
This bottom surface is adapted for slidable face-to-face contact with the flat top surface 99 of the fixed valve plate 90 when the cartridge 100 is mounted on the protruding piece 60.

The volume control valve plate 150 extends axially therethrough and has a first arcuate hot water inlet opening 155 and similar in size and shape that roughly corresponds to the arcuate inlet port 92 of the fixed valve plate 90. Has a second chilled water inlet opening 156 that extends through the volume control valve plate 150 and that generally corresponds in size and shape to the arcuate inlet port 93 of the fixed valve plate 90. Volume control plate 150
Is also a centrally located generally circular mixed water outlet opening 1 which extends therethrough and which generally corresponds in size and shape to the mixed water outlet port 94 of the fixed valve plate 90 and is in constant communication therewith.
57.

When the volume control handle 34 is rotated, the volume control stem 118, the housing 111 and the volume control valve are relatively moved with respect to the protruding piece 60 and the fixed control valve plate 90 fixedly mounted on the protrusion piece 60. The plate 150 is rotated. The rotational movement of the valve plate 150 relative to the fixed valve plate 90 provides perfect alignment of the openings 155 and 156 of the valve plate 150 with the ports 92 and 93 of the fixed valve plate 90 and the portion of the openings 155 and 156 with respect to the ports 92 and 93. And a general misalignment of openings 155 and 156 with ports 92 and 93.

Openings 155 and 156 are completely in port 9
Aligned with 2 and 93, the mixing valve 10 is in a fully open or open position that allows full flow of both hot and cold water into the interior of the cartridge assembly 100. When openings 155 and 156 are partially aligned with ports 92 and 93, mixing valve 10 causes cartridge assembly 10 to move.
It is in a partially open position allowing partial flow of both hot and cold water into the interior of the zero. Apertures 155 and 156 are completely misaligned with ports 92 and 93, ie aperture 1
When 55 and 156 are not in communication with ports 92 and 93, mixing valve 10 is in a closed or closed position where neither hot nor cold water can flow into the interior of cartridge assembly 100.

It should be noted that in the embodiment shown in these figures, the size and shape of opening 155 corresponds to the size and shape of opening 156 and the size and shape of port 92 corresponds to that of port 93. Corresponding to the size and shape, the dimensions and shapes of the openings 155 and 156 correspond to those of the ports 92 and 93, and in the fully open position the openings 155 and 156 are perfectly aligned with the ports 92 and 93. Is to be in full communication with. In such a situation, the amount of hot and cold water flowing through these openings and ports into the interior of the cartridge assembly 100 will be the same unless either the hot water supply pressure or the cold water supply pressure drops. Is equal to, but such a pressure drop may be due to other faucets, dishwashers, or washing machines being energized,
Or it occurs when the toilet is flushed. Opening 155
And 156 out of alignment with ports 92 and 93 reduces the total amount of water flowing through these openings and ports into the interior of the cartridge assembly, but through these openings and ports of the cartridge assembly. It does not change the ratio of the amount of cold water and hot water flowing inside. The ratio of the amounts of hot water and cold water flowing into the inside of the cartridge assembly remains the same.

The ratio of the amount of cold water to hot water flowing out through the mixed water outlet opening 157 and the mixed water outlet port 94 is controlled within the cartridge assembly 100 as described below.

Changing the shape and / or size of the opening 155 relative to the opening 156 or changing the shape and / or size of the port 92 relative to the port 93 is a ratio of flow rates, That is, the ratio of the amount of hot water and / or cold water flowing into the cartridge assembly 100 is changed.

Further, in the intermediate partially open position or fully open position, the water supply port 4 of the socket body 40 is
2 and 44 and the inlet openings 73 and 7 of the protruding piece 60
The seal 46, which acts as a seal between the four, as described below, does not allow any water to first flow through the cartridge 100 and the mixed water discharge port 5 of the socket body 40.
It stops reaching 6. In addition, port 42
The cross-flow between one another and 44 is prevented.

The top surface 153 of the volume control valve plate 150 has a circumferentially extending recess around the outlet perimeter 158 that receives the O-ring 154. The volume control valve plate 150 is disposed on the open bottom of the housing 111, and an O-ring is received in the inner shoulder 114 of the housing 111 to allow the volume control valve plate 150 and the housing 111.
Forming a watertight seal between. The volume control valve plate 150 and the wall portion 112 of the housing 111 bound a space 121 in the housing 111.

Inside this cavity 121 of the housing 111 an inner housing 160 is arranged. The inner housing 160 is preferably made of an elastic material such as hard rubber. This inner housing 160
Has a hollow interior defining a mixing chamber 175 bounded by a side wall 161 and a bottom wall 163. Two longitudinally or axially extending ribs 162 are formed on the outer surface of the side wall portion 161. These ribs 162 are preferably circumferentially spaced 180 ° apart from each other. These ribs 162 have a larger outer diameter than the wall 161. As the inner housing 160 is positioned within the cavity 121, as best seen in FIG. 16, the ribs 162 form a watertight interference fit on the inner surface 130 of the wall 112 of the housing 111. Wall 1
Since the outer diameter of 61 is smaller than the outer diameter of the rib 162, the rib 162, the wall portion 161, and the wall portion 11 of the housing 111.
The second inner surface 130 forms two longitudinally or axially extending water inlet passages, a cold water inlet passage 167 and a hot water inlet passage 166.

The top of the inner housing 160 is open, while the bottom is closed by a bottom wall 163. The bottom wall portion 163 has a centrally arranged boss 164 having a circular shape and hanging downward in the axial direction. The boss 164 is an extension 1 that extends in the radial direction of the rib 162.
Joined to 65, two free or truncated horizontal extending portions 177 and 177a are formed on each side of these ribs 162. These excised portions 177 and 177a form the radially extending portions of the bottom of the passages 166 and 167.

A mixed water outlet opening 179 is provided in the bottom wall portion 163. The mixed water outlet opening 179 also extends axially through the boss 164 and communicates with the mixed water outlet opening 157 of the volume control valve plate 150.

The inner housing 160 is the housing 111.
By being placed therein, the bottom surface of the boss 164 and the bottom surface of the radial extension 165 of the rib 162 are in face-to-face contact with the top surface 153 of the volume control valve plate 150. The boss 164 is a mixed water outlet opening 157 and two arcuate inlet openings 15 of the volume control valve plate 150.
It forms a watertight seal between 5 and 156. Further, the two radial extensions 165 of these bosses 164 and ribs 162 form a watertight seal between the arcuate water inlet openings 155 and 156 of the valve plate 150,
As a result, the bottom surface 177 of the hot water passage 166 and the bottom portion 177 of the cold water passage 167 are formed together with the top surface 153 of the plate 150.
And 177a. In operation, hot water from the inlet opening 155 of the plate 150 flows into a cutout portion 177 forming a radially extending portion of the bottom of the hot water passage 166, while cold water from the inlet opening 156 is chilled water passage 167. It is adapted to flow into a cut out portion 177a forming a radially extending portion of the bottom of the.

The ribs 162 are tapered at their top ends to form attachment points 169 for the cylinder 230 as described below. further,
At the top of the inner housing 160, a wall 161
, One section 168 having a generally semi-circular extent is higher than the semi-circular section 170 to be joined. This is so that the wall 161 has a step 171 at the top end.

As described above, the mixing chamber 175, or the mixed water discharge passage having the open top end, is bounded by the side wall portion 161 and the bottom wall portion 163 in the inner housing 160. A temperature sensing wax thermostat actuation control element 190 is located within this chamber 175 and is adapted to actuate a piston 220 as described below. The thermostat actuation control element 190 is of a type known in the art and is readily available commercially, for example from Caltherm, Bloomfield Hills, MI. The thermostat actuation control element 190 operates in the usual, well known manner. Briefly, the thermostat actuation control element 190 comprises a bowl filled with wax or a mixture 195 of wax and metal powder, for example a mixture of copper powder. This mixture of wax and copper powder is a diaphragm 1 adapted to act as a seat for a temperature controlled thrust rod 210.
It is enclosed within the bowl by a membrane made of 94 or the finger-shaped elastic of the glove. The heating causes the wax and copper powder mixture to expand, thereby pressing the diaphragm upwards. After cooling, the mixture of wax and copper powder shrinks, leaving the diaphragm free to move inside the bowl.

The thermostat actuation control element 190 has an outer threaded neck 191 at the tip of its top 193. A passageway 192 extends through the threaded neck 191 and top 193 and communicates with the interior of the bowl above the diaphragm 194. The passage 192 slidably receives the bottom of the temperature control thrust rod 210, and the bottom 211 of the temperature control thrust rod 210 is seated inside the bowl-shaped body of the diaphragm 194. The thermostat actuation control element 190 also has a portion 199 of increased diameter. This portion 199 serves as a top seat for the helical spring 180 located within the mixing chamber 175. Thermostat operation control element 1
Lower portion 198 of 90, ie portion 19 of element 190
The portion between 9 and the bottom acts as a spring guide for the spring 180. As shown in FIG. 4, the spiral spring 18
A zero bottom spring restraint 201 is inserted into the bottom of the mixing chamber 175 of the inner housing 160. The bottom spring restraint 201 has a circular opening 200 in its bottom wall which preferably has a larger diameter than the mixed water outlet opening 179 of the bottom wall 163 of the inner housing 160.

The spring 180 presses the thermostat operation control element 190 upward in the mixing chamber 175 of the inner housing 160. This thermostat operation control element 190 is used in the mixing chamber 1 of the inner housing 160.
A thermostat actuation control element holding member 183 is disposed within the inner housing 160 to prevent upward movement from 75 and to limit upward movement. The retaining member 183 comprises a longitudinally or upwardly extending rib 186 having a groove 189 adjacent the bottom end. These grooves 189 receive radial projections 203 in the side walls of the bottom spring restraint 201. In this way, the thermostat operation control element holding member 183 is locked to the bottom spring stop portion 201. Thermostat actuator element retaining member 183 also includes a horizontally extending top 187 sized to fit within the open end of inner housing 160. The top 187 has a central opening 185 therein having a diameter greater than the diameter of the threaded neck 191 so that the neck 191 fits within the housing 185 and extends therethrough. It has a diameter less than the diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 199 of the thermostat actuation control element 190, thereby preventing the thermostat actuation control element from extending through the open end of the inner housing 160. It has become. The top 187 also has a number of apertures 184 radially spaced from the central aperture 185 and circumferentially spaced from one another. These openings 185 and 184 communicate with the mixing chamber 175 of the inner housing 160. Holding member 18
3 and the bottom spring restraint 201 form a cage which encloses the spring 180 and the thermostat actuation control element 190.

A piston 220 is arranged and held at the tip of the top portion 193 of the thermostat operation control element 190. The piston 220 has a side wall portion 223 and a bottom wall portion 224. The bottom wall 224 has a number of openings 222 extending therethrough. An annular boss 227 extending downward is arranged in the central portion of the bottom wall portion 224. The boss 227 has an opening 221 extending therethrough. The boss 227 has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the threaded neck 191, and the threaded neck 19
It is designed to fit on top of 1. The outer diameter of boss 227 is sized so that it seats at the tip of top 193 of element 190 and is slidably fitted through central opening 185.

Hollow Inner Threaded Tubular Section 241
A spring-holding and guiding element 240 having a is screwed onto the threaded neck 191 to abut the tip of the top 193. Since the outer diameter of the tubular portion 241 is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 221 extending through the boss 227, the tubular portion 241 has the opening 221 of the boss 227.
Through the top 19 of the thermostat actuation control element 190
It is retained on the tip of 3. A spring 250 is mounted on the tubular portion 241 of the spring retaining and guiding element 240. The spring 250 has its bottom end seated on the bottom wall 224 of the cylinder piston 220 and its top end seated on the radially extending upper lip 242 of the spring retaining and guiding element 240. . This spring 2
Reference numeral 50 designates the boss 227 on the surface of the element 190, for example, the top 19
3, so that the piston 220 is pressed downwards towards the bowl of the thermostat actuation control element 190.

Cylinder 230 is inside housing 160
Is fixedly held at the open top end of the, and more specifically, the groove 232 in the downwardly depending flange 231.
Is fixedly held on the raised portion 168 of the wall 161 via the and adapted to engage a mounting point 169 at the tapered top end of the rib 162 of the inner housing 160.

Stepped portion 17 on top of wall 161
1, the bottom of the wall 233 of the cylinder 230 and the top of the wall portion 170 of the wall 161 form a generally semi-circular water supply opening 172 that extends radially.
The hot water flows into the inside of the inner housing 160 through the water supply opening, and the hot water flows into the thermostat operation control element 1.
It is designed to allow contact with 90.

The inner diameter of the cylinder 230 is the piston 220
It is larger than the outer diameter of
It can slide vertically or axially within 30. Piston 2
The height of the wall portion 223 of 20 is the wall portion 23 of the cylinder 230.
It is approximately the same as or smaller than the height of 3.

As the piston 220 slides axially downwards in the cylinder 230, it closes or partially closes the opening 172 (depending on the degree of downward movement), thereby passing through the water supply opening 172. Inner housing 160
It shuts off or reduces the flow of hot water into it, and shuts off or reduces the contact of hot water with the thermostat actuation control element 190. Conversely, upward movement of the piston 220 within the cylinder 230 opens or partially opens the hot water supply opening 172 (depending on the degree of movement), thereby allowing flow through the opening 172, Or increase it.

The piston 220 is the cylinder 23
It fits snugly within the zero, and the wall 223 of the piston 220 forms a seal with the wall 233 of the cylinder 230. Below the piston, i.e. in the closed position, the bottom of the wall 223 of the piston 220 also forms a watertight seal with the portion 170 of the wall 161 of the inner housing 160.

Inner surface 13 of wall portion 112 of housing 111
0 is two parts 13 with a reduced diameter in the upper part
1 and 133. The portion 133 has a smaller inner diameter than the portion 131, thereby forming an inner shoulder 132 therebetween. These two portions 131 and 133 do not extend completely around the inner circumference of the inner surface 130 of the wall 112, but are semi-circular in shape. Therefore, these portions have a circumferential extension amount of the lower portion 1 of the wall portion 161 of the inner housing 160.
It corresponds to 70. Therefore, the inner shoulder portion 132 is similarly semicircular in shape. Figure 7
As best shown in Figure 1, part 131 is cylinder 2
The semi-circular portions of the wall portion 233 of 30 are dimensioned to face each other in a sealed condition. Shoulder 132 is cylinder 2
It is adapted to act as a semi-circular seat for the top semi-circular portion of 30. Also, as best seen in FIG. 7, the portion 133 is dimensioned to sealingly face the semi-circular portion of the wall 223 of the piston 220 when the piston 220 is in the extended or upper position. It has been decided.

Wall portion 1 located above the portion 133
The third portion 135 of the inner surface 130 of 12 also has a reduced inner diameter. The inner diameter of this part 135 is part 133
Smaller than the inner diameter of. This portion 135 extends around the entire inner circumference of the inner surface 130 of the wall 112 so that it acts as a seat against the top of the piston 220 when it is in the top or extended position. The formed shoulder 136 is formed.

Since the portions 131 and 133 of the inner surface 130 of the wall 112 have a semicircular shape, the cold water inlet passage 1
67 includes a cold water inlet passage extension 167a.

As mentioned above, the temperature control thrust rod 210
The bottom 211 of the seat is seated on a diaphragm 194 inside the bowl of the thermostat actuation control element 190. The top end 212 of this temperature control thrust rod 210 is externally threaded to allow the volume control stem 1 of the housing 111 to
Aperture 12 of raised boss 122 located in the hollow interior of 18.
It extends through 3 and beyond. The outer surface of the side wall of the boss 121 and the inner surface 125 of the wall of the volume control stem 118 are adapted to bound the annular recess.

The threaded top 212 of the temperature control thrust rod 210 threadably engages an internally threaded opening 271 extending through the top wall 273 of the cam follower 270. The cam follower 270 includes a side wall 274 which, together with the top wall 273, forms an internal cavity communicating with the internally threaded opening 271. The internal cavity is sized to fit over the boss 122, the side wall of which is the side wall of the boss 121 and the volume control stem 1.
It is adapted to be placed in an annular recess bounded by the inner surface 125 of eighteen. Therefore, this cam follower 27
0 is mounted on the boss 122 so as to be vertically or axially slidable. Side wall 2 of cam follower 270
74 has a key groove 275, which is adapted to receive the key 122 of the boss 122 and prevent the rotational movement of the cam follower 270 relative to the boss 121.

The temperature control operation stem 260 includes the outer surface of the side wall portion 274 of the cam follower 270 and the volume control stem 11.
8 is disposed above the cam follower 270 in the annular cavity bounded by the inner surface 125 of eight via complementary shaped portion 261. The temperature controlled actuation stem 260 has a semi-circular, e.g., diagonally extending cam engagement surface 264, which is the top wall portion 27 of the cam follower 270.
1 is engaged with the cam follower element 272 disposed on the upper side.

In the structure shown, the cam engaging surface 264 is highest, that is, its left end 264a.
Is the furthest from the bottom of the temperature controlled actuation stem 260 and the right end 264b is the lowest, ie, closest to the bottom of the temperature controlled actuation stem 260. Therefore, the cam operating surface 264 is inclined downward from the left end portion 264a to the right end portion 264b toward the temperature control operation stem 260.

The cam follower element 272 is pressed upward so as to come into contact with the cam operating surface 264 as follows. That is, the thermostat operation control element 190 causes the spring 180 to
When the thermostat actuation control element 190 is pushed upwards into the cavity 175 by the
Causes upward movement of the temperature control thrust rod 210, which is adapted to sit on the diaphragm inside the thermostat operation control element 190, and when the temperature control thrust rod 210 moves upward, the thrust rod 210 is screwed. The combined cam follower 270 is forced upward.
The abutment of the cam follower element 272 against the cam operating surface 264 limits the upward movement of the cam follower 270, the thrust rod 210 and thereby the thermostat actuation control element 190.

Due to the downward slope of the cam actuating surface 264 from left to right, rotation of the temperature controlled actuation stem 260 in the clockwise direction forces the cam follower 270 downwardly and thus the thermostat actuation controller. The element 190 is moved downward into the mixing chamber 175. Cam follower 270
Moves downward, which causes the downward force exerted by the cam actuation surface 164 on the cam follower 270 to be the thermostat actuation control element 190 and the thrust rod 210.
Is sufficient to overcome the upward force exerted by the spring 180 transmitted to the cam follower 270 via.

The volume control stem 118 is rotated by the handle 34, as previously described. The handle 34 has a seat 322 having a splined portion 324 on the periphery and an upper portion having an axially extending top shoulder 326. A rib 327 extends radially inwardly from the shoulder 326 and an arcuate hydrothermal stop ring 328 has a portion 330 with a complementary spline that extends in many rotational positions to the spline portion. 324 can be adjustably arranged and fixed.
This ring 320 includes a stop shoulder 332 and an arcuate rib 3.
Has 36. The ring 328 contacts the rib 327,
It is adapted to be frictionally engaged in place within seat 322.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 12 and 13, the temperature control stem 260 receives the temperature control knob 38, the restraining shoulder 338 of which is the shoulder 326 of the handle 34.
And allows rotation between stop shoulders 332 on member 328. The screw 340 is the hole 2 in the stem 260.
It is screwed into 63 to secure the temperature control knob to this stem. A decorative cap 344 fits within the recess 346 of the temperature control knob 38.

Referring to FIG. 14, the temperature control knob 38 has an orientation insert 350 which fits within a lower recess 352 of the temperature control knob 38. This insert 350 has a rotationally symmetrical opening 358,
This opening is D-shaped and is adapted to fit over the D-shaped upper portion 265 of the temperature control stem 260 only in one rotational position. This opening 358 does not extend entirely through the insert 350. Only one small threaded hole 359 extends through the insert 350 to prevent the insert 350 from tipping over the stem 260 for mounting.

The valve actuation housing 111 is rotated by the volume control handle 34 to the inoperative position so that the inlet openings 155 and 156 of the volume control valve plate 150 are completely misaligned with the water inlet ports 92 and 93 of the fixed valve plate 90. In a state,
It is possible to prevent water from flowing into the inside of the cartridge assembly. In this inoperative position, the ridge 115 on the outer surface of the wall 112 of the housing 111 is shown in FIG.
The vertical side 1 of the window 106 of the sleeve 101 as shown in FIG.
04 is contacted. The handle 34 is rotated counterclockwise to move the ridge 115 away from the vertical side 104 so that the ridge 115 abuts the vertical side 104a, in which position the valve is in its fully actuated position and the inlet opening 155 and 156 is adapted to occupy any position within window 106 such that it is perfectly aligned with inlet ports 92 and 93. The inlet openings 155 and 156 can be partially aligned with the inlet openings 92 and 93 as shown in FIG. 6, or can be fully aligned with the inlet ports 92 and 93. The inlet openings 155 and 156 are preferably sized and arranged to provide the same degree of partial alignment to the inlet ports 92 and 93 at the same time.

The cold water inlet opening 156 is the cold water inlet port 93.
The cold water inlet passage extension 167 that communicates with the cold water inlet passage 167 and the cold water inlet passage 167.
It flows into 67a. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, cold water is then transferred from the cold water inlet passage extension 167a to the top of the wall 233 of the cylinder 230, the piston 220.
Of the wall 223 of the housing and the wall 11 of the housing 111
Mixing chamber 175 of the inner housing 160 through a semi-circular cold water supply opening 174 bounded by two inner surfaces 130.
Flows in. Cold water is mixing chamber 1 of inner housing 160
Thermostat actuation control element 190 located within 75
It flows over and contacts this.

Similarly, when the hot water inlet opening 155 is aligned with the hot water inlet port 92, the hot water is heated by the hot water inlet passage 166.
Flows in. As best shown in FIG. 9, the hot water then flows from the hot water inlet passage 166 to the wall portion 170 of the wall 161.
The inner housing 16 through a semi-circular hot water supply opening 172 bounded by the top of the wall of the cylinder 230, the bottom of the wall 233 of the cylinder 230 and the bottom of the wall 223 of the piston 220.
0 into the mixing chamber 175 where it is mixed with cold water. The mixed hot and cold water is then mixed in the mixing chamber 175.
It flows over the thermostat actuation control element 190 and is discharged from this chamber 175 through a mixed water outlet opening 179 as best shown in FIG. The mixed water is discharged from the valve assembly 100 by flowing through the mixed water outlet opening 157, the mixed water outlet port 94 and the mixed water outlet passage 71.

The amount of cold and hot water flowing into the chamber 175 is controlled by the axial or vertical movement of the piston 220 in the cylinder 230 which is fixed so as not to move in the axial direction. When the piston 220 moves in the axial direction, the wall portion 223 of the cylinder piston 220 is
Top approaches the shoulder 136, thereby narrowing the chilled water supply opening 174. This is the cold water inlet passage extension 1
The flow of cold water from 67a through cold water supply opening 174 and into mixing chamber 175 is reduced so that more hot water is discharged through mixed water outlet opening 179. However, when the top of the wall 223 approaches the shoulder 136, the bottom of the wall 223 moves away from the top of the wall 170, thereby expanding or opening the hot water supply opening 172. This means that the hot water inlet passage 166
To increase the flow of hot water flowing into the chamber 175 through the hot water supply opening 172. Conversely, as the piston 220 moves downwards within the cylinder 230, the bottom of the wall 223 of the piston 220 approaches the top of the wall portion 170 of the wall 161, thereby narrowing the hot water supply opening 172. This reduces the flow of hot water flowing into the chamber 175 through the hot water supply opening 172 and allows cool water to be discharged through the mixed water outlet opening 179.

In FIG. 8, the piston 220 is in a completely lower position, and the hot water inlet opening 172 has the inner housing 160.
The bottom portion of the wall portion 223 of the cylinder piston 220 that abuts the portion 170 of the wall portion 161 of FIG. At this position, hot water does not flow into the mixing chamber 175. However, as also shown in FIG. 8, when the hot water supply opening 172 is closed by the wall 223 of the piston 220, the chilled water supply opening 174 is in the fully open position, and the top of the wall 223 of the piston 220 is closed. Is in a position farthest from the shoulder 136. In this position, only cold water will flow into the chamber 175.

In FIG. 9, the piston 220 is a cylinder 230.
In a completely upper position, the cold water inlet opening 174 is shown fully closed by the top of the wall 223 of the piston 220 abutting the shoulder 136. Cold water does not flow into the chamber 175 in this position. However, as shown in FIG. 9, when the cold water supply opening 174 is closed by the wall 223 of the piston 220, the hot water supply opening 172.
Is placed in a fully open position so that the bottom of wall 223 is furthest away from the top of portion 170 of wall 161. Only hot water flows into the chamber 175 in this position.

4 and 7 show the piston 220 in a partially lowered position in the cylinder 230, ie in the intermediate position. In this position, both the cold water supply opening 174 and the hot water supply opening 172 are partially open, allowing both cold and hot water to flow into the chamber 175.

Thus, the temperature of the water discharged through the mixed water outlet opening 179 is a function of the axial position of the piston 220. Piston 2 in cylinder 230
The higher the position of 20, i.e. the closer the top of the wall 223 of the piston approaches the shoulder 136, the smaller the cold water supply opening 174 and the higher the temperature of the water discharged from the mixed water outlet opening 179. The lower the position of the piston 220 in the cylinder 230, that is, the wall 2 of the piston.
The further the top of 23 is away from the shoulder 136 and thus the bottom of the wall 223 is closer to the wall portion 170 of the wall 161, the smaller the hot water supply opening 172 will be and will be discharged from the mixed water outlet opening 179. The temperature of the water is even lower.

In other words, in the present invention, when the size of the cold water supply opening 174 becomes smaller, the hot water supply opening 172 becomes smaller.
The size of the corresponding is automatically increased, and vice versa.

The axial or vertical movement of the piston 220 in the cylinder 230 fixedly mounted on the top of the inner housing 160, without moving axially or vertically as described above, causes the mixing chamber 175 of the inner housing 160 to move.
This is caused by the axial or vertical movement of the thermostat actuation control element 190, which is operatively connected to the piston 220 therein.

As described above, the temperature control thrust rod 210
Is located in an internal passage 192 in the threaded mouth 191 of the thermostat actuation control element 190 such that the bottom 211 of the thrust rod 210 sits on a diaphragm inside the thermostat actuation control element 190. It is done. The threaded top 212 of this rod 210 is threadedly engaged with a cam follower 270. The temperature control thrust rod 210 includes a temperature control actuation stem 26.
0 and thus fixed in the mixing chamber 175 by rotation of the cam actuating surface 264 therein, or fixed in a preselected axial position to prevent upward axial or vertical movement. Of. As shown in FIG. 7, the clockwise rotation of the temperature control actuation stem 260 causes the portion 264b of the cam actuation surface 264 to move the cam follower element 2.
Make contact with 72. This portion 264b of the cam actuating surface 264 is lower than the portion 264a, ie, closer to the bottom of the temperature control actuating stem 260, so that the cam follower 270 is forced downward on the boss 121, thereby causing the cam follower to move. The temperature control strip rod 210 connected to 270 is moved downward. This downward movement of thrust rod 210 forces thermostat actuation control element 190 to move downward within mixing chamber 175. The downward movement of the element 190 causes the downward movement of the piston 220 operatively connected to the element 190. The upward force exerted by the spring 180 on the thermostat actuation control element 190 is to overcome the downward force exerted on the element 190 via the thrust rod 210 by the cam surface 264 engaging the cam follower 270. Inadequately, the temperature control thrust rod 210 is fixed in this axial position unless and until the temperature control actuation stem 260 is rotated again.

As the thrust rod 210 moves downward, the bottom of it moves to the thermostat actuation control element 190.
It abuts against and presses against the inner diaphragm, thereby forcing the thermostat actuation control element 190 downwards within the mixing chamber 175. This causes a spring-retaining threaded engagement of the neck 191 of the thermostat actuation control element 190 and a corresponding downward movement of the guide element 240. As the lip 242 of the holding and guiding element 240 moves downwards, it has a top of this annular lip 2
Spring 250 seated at 42 is forced to move downward. The downward movement of the spring 250 causes the spring 250 to
Exerts a downward force on the bottom wall 224 of the cylinder 220 on which its bottom sits. This forces the piston 220 downward. The downward movement of piston 220 causes the downward movement of its wall 223, which reduces the size of hot water supply opening 172 and increases the size of cold water supply opening 174. This is the mixing chamber 1
It increases the flow of cold water into 75 and reduces the flow of hot water.

As shown in FIG. 9, rotation of the counterclockwise temperature control actuation stem 260 lifts the cam actuation surface 264 away from the cam follower element 272. This is because the portion 264a of the cam actuation surface 264 is higher than the portion 264b. However, since the cam actuation surface 264 is lifted away from the cam follower element 272, there is no downward force exerted on the temperature control thrust rod 210, and thus the thermostat actuation control element 190. Thus, the spring 180 forces the thermostat actuation control element 190 upward in the axial direction. The upward movement of the element 190 moves the thrust rod 210 and the cam follower 270 to which the thrust rod 210 is connected upward. This upward movement is performed by the cam follower element 2
This continues until 72 abuts the cam surface 264. When the cam follower element 272 abuts the cam surface 264, the thrust rod 210 is locked in this axial position unless and until the temperature control actuating stem 260 is rotated again.

The thermostat actuation control element 190 springs and guides the element 24 during its axial upward movement.
0, spring 250 and piston 220 move together. The upward movement of the piston 220 causes its wall 223 to
Is moved upwards away from the portion 170 of the wall 161 toward the shoulder 163, which causes the hot water supply opening 1
The size of 72 is increased and the size of cold water supply opening 174 is decreased. This increases the flow of hot water into the mixing chamber 175 and decreases the flow of cold water.

The rotation of the temperature control operating stem 260 is performed by the rotation of the temperature control knob 38 connected to the stem 260.

The maximum water temperature can be easily adjusted by removing the cap 344 and unscrewing the screw 340 and allowing the temperature control knob 38 to be moved. This allows the hot water stop ring 328 to be removed and rotated and reinserted into the spline portion 334 of the handle 34. This spline 33
4 is set so that rotation of only one notch or one spline tooth of the stop ring 328 reduces the maximum water temperature by a predetermined value, eg, about 1.11 ° C. (2 ° F.). is there. Ring 32 shown in FIG.
The 8 position reduces counterclockwise rotation of the temperature control knob 34 as compared to FIG. Therefore, the maximum temperature of water is also reduced. The maximum hot water temperature made possible via the ring 328 can be achieved without shutting off the water supply of the valve or disassembling the main part.

Once the desired water temperature has been preselected by the rotation of the temperature control knob 38, the water discharged from the mixing chamber 175 is automatically kept at this temperature.
This is done by the thermostat actuation control element 190 which moves in either up or down direction within the mixing chamber 175 in response to the temperature of the water within the mixing chamber 175. Therefore, if the flow of cold water flowing into the mixing chamber 175 through the cold water supply opening 174 decreases for some reason, the temperature of the water in the mixing chamber 175 rises. Such hotter water heats the thermostat actuation control element 190,
This causes the thermally expandable material located inside the element 190 below the diaphragm to expand.
The expansion of this thermally expandable material, for example wax mixed with copper powder, forces the diaphragm upwards within this element 190. However, the upward movement of the diaphragm is blocked by the bottom 211 of the thrust rod 210, which is fixed in position in the axial direction and which abuts against this diaphragm. Therefore, the upward movement of the diaphragm within this element 190 will result in this thermostat actuation control element 190.
Are moved downwards in the mixing chamber 175. The downward movement of this element 190 as described above causes the downward movement of the associated pistons to narrow the hot water supply opening 172 and correspondingly increase the cold water supply opening 174. The narrowing of the hot water supply opening 172 and the widening of the cold water supply opening 174 allow more cold water and / or less hot water to flow into the mixing chamber 175, thereby allowing the mixing water in the mixing chamber 175 to flow. The temperature is kept constant.

The supply of cold water to the mixing chamber 175 is substantially
Or in the case of a complete interruption, the thermostat actuation control element 190 will move downward a sufficient distance,
The wall 223 of the piston 220 completely closes the hot water supply opening 172, thereby blocking the flow of hot water into the mixing chamber 175. Such a state is shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
Is shown in.

On the other hand, when the flow of hot water flowing into the mixing chamber 175 through the hot water supply opening 172 is reduced, the temperature of the water in the mixing chamber 175 is reduced. This cooler water cools the thermostat actuation control element 190, thereby causing the thermally expandable material inside the element 190 to contract. This contraction of the thermally expandable material causes the diaphragm to move downwardly in the element 190 away from the bottom of the axially fixed thrust rod 210. However, the spring 180 continues to force the thermostat actuation control element upward, which causes the diaphragm 2 and the bottom portion 2 of the thrust rod 210.
The contact between 11 is maintained. As mentioned above,
The upward movement of the element 190 causes the upward movement of the combined piston 220 to narrow the cold water supply opening 174 and correspondingly widen the hot water supply opening 172. This narrowing of the cold water supply opening 174 and the widening of the hot water supply opening 172 allow more hot water and / or less cold water to flow into the mixing chamber 175, thereby causing The temperature of the mixed water is maintained.

If the supply of hot water into the mixing chamber 175 is substantially or completely interrupted, the thermostat actuation control element 190 moves upward a sufficient distance and the wall 223 of the piston 220 is removed. The cold water supply opening 174 is completely closed, which blocks the flow of cold water into the mixing chamber 175. Such a state is shown in FIG.

Various other modifications can be made to the embodiments described and illustrated herein above as non-limiting examples of the scope of the invention.

[0087]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, in the hot water and cold water supply pipes, the valve actuating element and the temperature sensitive element are all provided in a replaceable cartridge assembly. It is possible to discharge the mixed water of the set temperature without being affected by the pressure change of the water, and it is possible to provide the reliable and thermostatically operated control mixing valve that can be installed in the existing faucet socket. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixing valve assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, partially-divided perspective view of a mixing valve showing preselected control handles, temperature control knobs, and their attachment to respective stems of the mixing valve.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled cartridge assembly.

4 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly shown in FIG. 3, showing the piston in an intermediate position allowing both hot and cold water to flow into the mixing chamber. is there.

5 is an exploded and partially exploded perspective view of the cartridge assembly shown in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

7 is a partial elevational cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the cartridge assembly shown in FIG. 3, showing the piston in an intermediate position allowing both hot and cold water to flow into the mixing chamber. Is.

FIG. 8 shows that the thermostat actuation control element has been disassembled and the temperature control thrust rod and piston seated on the diaphragm are completely in the down position allowing only cold water to flow into the mixing chamber. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 except for FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, except that the piston is in the fully up position, allowing only hot water to flow into the mixing chamber.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cartridge assembly and the exploded bottom of the valve socket body.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG.
It is a figure showing the state where the temperature control knob is rotated to the cold water position.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, showing a state in which the hot water blocking member is adjusted to the lowered maximum water temperature and the temperature control knob is rotated to the maximum hot water position where it abuts on this blocking member.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of a temperature control knob and insert with orientation.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a temperature control knob and insert with orientation.

FIG. 15 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the bottom of the cartridge assembly shown in FIG.

16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG.

17 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 4 showing the preselected control plate rotated to an intermediate home position.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Mixing Valve 18 Cold Water Supply Nipple 20 Hot Water Supply Nipple 22 Outlet Nipple 24 Outlet Nipple 26 Decorative Color 32 Color 34 Capacity Control Handle 36 Lever 38 Temperature Control Knob 40 Valve Socket Body 42 Water Supply Inlet Port 44 Water Supply Inlet Port 45 Socket Empty Where 46 Valve seat 47 Spring 51 Cylindrical part of valve socket body 40 52 Hemispherical part of valve socket body 53 Shoulder between cylindrical part 51 and hemispherical part 52 Mixed water outlet port 60 Projection piece 61 Projection piece Hemispherical portion of 60 62 Cylindrical portion of protruding piece 60 63 Shoulder between hemispherical portion 61 and cylindrical portion 62 67 Recessed flat top surface of cylindrical portion 70 Water passage 71 Mixed water outlet water passage 72 Heat Water inlet Water passageway 73 Inlet opening in hemispherical part 61 74 Inlet in hemispherical part 61 Mouth 75 Arc-shaped void of the protruding piece 60 76 Arc-shaped void of the protruding piece 60 78 Mixed water discharge opening 80 Seal member 81 Notch on outer surface of cylindrical portion 83 Holding lip 90 Fixed valve plate 92 Water inlet port 93 Water Inlet Port 94 Mixed Water Outlet Port 99 Flat Top of Fixed Valve Plate 90 100 Cartridge Assembly 101 Outer Cylindrical Sleeve of Cartridge Assembly 102 Tab 103 Tab 102 Tab 102 105 Cylindrical Sleeve 101 Wall 106 Window 107 of Wall 105 Bottom of Window 106 108 Recess of Inner Surface of Wall 105 109 Annular Part of Inner Surface of Wall 105 110 Inner Shoulder Inside Sleeve 101 111 Hollow Cylindrical Housing 112 Wall of Housing 111 113 Color 115 Ridge on outer surface of wall 112 118 Volume control System 119 Deformed shape of volume control stem 118 with complementary shape to non-circular opening 314 130 Inner surface 131 of wall portion 112 Reduced diameter portion of inner surface 130 133 Reduced diameter portion of inner surface 130 135 Third reduced diameter portion of the inner surface 130 136 Shoulder 150 Volume control valve plate 152 Flat bottom end of volume control valve plate 155 Hot water inlet opening 156 Cold water inlet opening 157 Mixed water outlet opening 160 Inner housing 161 Inner housing 160 side wall 162 rib 163 inner housing 160 bottom wall 164 boss 166 heatable water inlet passage 167 cold water inlet passage 172 hot water supply opening 175 mixing chamber 179 mixed water outlet opening 180 spiral spring 183 thermostat operation control element retention Member 185 Center opening of top 187 19 Thermostat actuation control element 191 Thermostat actuation control element 190 neck 192 Passageway 193 Thermostat actuation control element 190 top 194 Diaphragm 195 Wax or wax and metal powder mixture 200 Bottom spring stop 201 circular opening 201 Spring 180 bottom stop Part 210 Temperature Control Thrust Rod 212 Threaded Top of Temperature Control Thrust Rod 220 Piston 221 Boss 227 Openings 222 Bottom Wall 224 Multiple Openings 223 Piston 220 Sidewalls 224 Piston 220 Bottom Wall 227 Boss 230 Cylinder 233 Cylinder 230 Wall 240 Spring Holding and Guiding Element 241 Hollow Threaded Tubular Part of Spring Holding and Guiding Element 240 242 Spring Holding and Guiding Element 240 Full Lip 2 60 temperature control actuation stem 264 cam actuation engagement surface 270 cam follower 272 cam follower element 273 side wall part of cam follower 270 274 side wall part of cam follower 270 non-circular opening 322 of handle 34 seat 324 of handle 34 Spline portion of handle 34 327 Rib 328 Hydrothermal stop ring 330 Complementary spline 332 of hydrothermal stop ring 328 Stop shoulder 336 Circular rib 344 Decorative cap 350 Oriented insert of temperature control knob 38

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-53-21429 (JP, A) JP-A-57-61877 (JP, A) JP-A-53-73645 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-59- 128974 (JP, U) Actually opened 62-143869 (JP, U) Actually opened 62-155274 (JP, U) Special table 3-501642 (JP, A) Special table 3-502725 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing having an empty space, the empty space having a hot water supply port, a cold water supply port and a mixed water discharge port respectively communicating with the empty space, and a detachable housing in the empty space of the housing. A cartridge mounted, wherein the cartridge is connected to a hot water inlet opening communicating with the hot water supply port, a cold water inlet opening communicating with the cold water supply port, and the mixed water discharge port. A flow control valve device including a mixed water outlet opening for controlling the amount of flow to the cartridge, and having an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end communicating with the hot water inlet opening of the flow control valve device. A hot water passage, an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end communicating with the cold water inlet opening of the flow control valve device. A cold water passage having an upstream end communicating with the mixed water outlet opening of the flow control valve device, wherein the hot water passage and the cold water passage have a downstream end communicating with the mixed water discharge passage. The hot water passage, the cold water passage, and the mixed water discharge passage, and the hot water that is interposed between the mixed water discharge passage, the hot water passage, and the cold water passage at the downstream end. A water temperature control valve device for controlling the amount of hot water flowing from the passage into the mixed water discharge passage and the amount of cold water flowing from the cold water passage into the mixed water discharge passage; and the water temperature control valve device. including but a piston mounted for movement in the axial direction into the cylinder and within the cylinder
A piston-cylinder structure is adopted, and the piston is moved by the movement of the piston in the cylinder in the first axial direction.
The degree of communication between the hot water passage and the mixed water discharge passage is increased at one end of the ton , thereby increasing the amount of hot water flowing into the mixed water discharge passage, and the cold water passage and the mixed water discharge passage. The communication between the discharge passages is reduced or cut off, which reduces or cuts off the amount of cold water flowing into the mixed water discharge passage, while on the other hand the opposite axial movement of the piston in the cylinder At the other end of the piston, the degree of communication between the cold water passage and the mixed water discharge passage is increased, whereby the amount of cold water flowing into the mixed water discharge passage is increased and the hot water passage and the The communication between the mixed water discharge passages is reduced or cut off so that the amount of hot water flowing into the mixed water discharge passages is reduced or cut off. A thermostat element axially movably disposed in the mixed water discharge passage and operatively connected to the piston, the piston being responsive to an axial movement of the thermostat element in the mixed water discharge passage. Is moved in the axial direction in the cylinder, the thermostat element is in the flow path of the mixed water, the piston relative to the cylinder, the mixed water passing through the mixed water discharge passage. A mixing valve adapted to include a thermostat element arranged to move in relation to temperature. 2. A hot water inlet device, a cold water inlet device and a mixed water outlet device comprising a generally hemispherical bottom and a generally cylindrical top, said hemispherical bottom communicating with said cylindrical top. A lower cartridge portion being made, a first hot water inlet opening disposed in the cylindrical top,
A first valve plate having a first cold water inlet opening and a first mixed water outlet opening, said first hot water inlet opening communicating with said hot water inlet device, said first cold water inlet opening. Is connected to the cold water inlet device, the first mixed water outlet opening is adapted to communicate with the mixed water outlet device, and the first valve plate is connected to the lower cartridge portion, the lower portion A tubular hollow sleeve having an open bottom end connected to a cartridge portion, and a longitudinally extending cavity extending into and communicating with the cavity, rotatably disposed within the tubular hollow sleeve An upper cartridge portion including a cylindrical housing having an open bottom end, and a second hot water inlet opening, a second cold water inlet opening and a second hot water inlet opening attached to the open bottom end of the cylindrical housing. A second valve plate having a second mixed water outlet opening and rotatably cooperating with the first valve plate to control the amount of water flowing into the upper cartridge portion; A generally cylindrical inner housing disposed within the longitudinally extending cavity of the interior, the interior longitudinally extending mixing chamber having an open top end and one end communicating with the mixing chamber. The inner cylindrical housing further has a closed bottom end that communicates with the mixing chamber and has the other end inside which has a mixed water discharge outlet that communicates with the second mixed water outlet opening. An outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cylindrical inner housing and a longitudinally extending hot water passage and a longitudinally extending cold water passage by the outer surface of the cylindrical inner housing and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing. A generally cylindrical inner housing adapted to be bounded, the hot water and cold water passages having a top end communicating with the mixing chamber at an open top end of the cylindrical inner housing, a bottom end At the second hot water inlet opening and the second hot water inlet opening, respectively.
Is connected to the cold water inlet opening of the cylindrical inner housing, is disposed at the open top end of the cylindrical inner housing, is interposed between the hot water and cold water passages, and the mixing chamber, and flows into the mixing chamber. Control valve device for controlling the amount of hot and cold water to be generated, a cylinder to which the control valve device is fixedly attached to the open top end of the cylindrical housing, and an axially movable arrangement in this cylinder A thermostat element disposed axially movably in the mixing chamber, the axis of the thermostat element in the mixing chamber being operatively connected to the piston. Responsive to directional movement, the piston is adapted to move axially within the cylinder in the flow path of the mixing water and through the mixing chamber. Cartridge mixing valve housing comprising said thermostat element which is related to the temperature of the mixed water flowing beyond the thermostat element is arranged to move the piston within the cylinder, the. 3. A cartridge of a mixing valve housing, comprising a hot water inlet device, a cold water inlet device, and a mixed water outlet device, said hot water inlet device communicating with a hot water supply port in said mixing valve housing, The hot water inlet device, the cold water inlet device, wherein the cold water inlet device is in communication with a cold water supply port in the housing, and the mixed water outlet device is in communication with a mixed water outlet port in the housing. The mixed water outlet device, a first valve device operable to control the total amount of water flowing from the hot water supply port and the cold water supply port through the hot water inlet device and the cold water inlet device, A communication device downstream of the first valve device, wherein the hot water inlet device and the cold water inlet device communicate with the mixed water outlet device. And a relative ratio of a flow of hot water and a flow of cold water that are operably attached to the communication device and flow into the mixed water outlet device from the hot water inlet device and the cold water inlet device. A thermostatically controlled second valve device for controlling the mixing valve housing cartridge.